New vehicle sales up in May, down in June: Statscan

Increased truck sales led to a one per cent rise in the number of new motor vehicles sold in May, to 121,348. Statistics Canada notes new-vehicle sales have been on the rise after falling sharply in the latter part of 2008. But the agency reports preliminary industry data indicate the number of new motor vehicles sold fell about one per cent in June.

Sales of new trucks (minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) were up 2.2 per cent to 61,392 in May. Truck sales exceeded passenger car sales in May for only the fourth time in the last 10 years. The number of new passenger cars sold in May was down 0.3 per cent, totalling 59,956 vehicles.

Higher sales were recorded in seven provinces in May. The main contributor to the increase in Canada was a two per cent gain in Ontario. The largest percentage increase occurred in Nova Scotia (8.5), where sales rose for the fourth straight month.